M1 ID Help

[topaz]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

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[IcmThrawn]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

Where can I find this?

---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 AM ----------

Looks good. I have one of those around here somewhere. Yours has the front sight seal in place and that was the first thing to go. This can be researched and may well be worth your doing. More and detailed pics if you please...

Still trying to figure out how to do that with my camera. Every time I take a close up of marking it comes out blurry. What pics would you like to see? I'll do my best.

[topaz]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

Original example of a 1942 production U.S. Springfield Armory M1 Garand Rifle. This rifle is part of a small number of M1 Rifles supplied to the British Army in 1942 under the Lend Lease Program. Some M1 Rifles were issued to British Commando units and were carried thru the entire war. Most of the rifles remained unissued and were returned to the U.S. and resold commercially in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The British identified at least some of the Lend Lease M1 rifles as 'non-standard caliber' by painting a red band on the handguard. British proofmarks were stamped on the barrels when the rifles were exported from Great Britain. The British Lend Lease M1 Garands are some of the very few pre-war or early WWII production M1 rifles found in original, unaltered condition. The rifle has a gray-green parkerized finish and walnut stock, handguard and forearm. The lower portion of the handguard is painted with a two-inch wide red band (this band was usually removed by early owners and is rarely found on Lend Lease M1 rifles). The rifle has the early production features that include: (1) 'Type 1" rear sights, (2) milled trigger guard, (3) un-cut "SA-3" operating rod, (3) milled, grooved, forearm band and (4) front sight seal. The rear sight screws and buttplate screws are blued. The hammer spring housing, operating rod catch and face of the barrel chamber are bight. The right side of the barrel chamber is marked: "S-A--42" over stamped with British export proofs. The steel lot code "REP 25A" is stamped on the right side of the lower receiver.

[IcmThrawn]

Here are some of the close ups.













---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------

Very nice looking rifle . Lots of people will cringe at the thought of taking it out , but I tip my hat to you , sir , it's what they were made for. Just treat her gently , invest in a hard case to transport her , and , for God's sake , don't remove the front sight seal , it adds several hundreds to your rifle's value . By the looks and description, there is a good chance it was lend/lease .
Chris

I refuse to own a gun I can't or won't shoot. Granted, she'll only see the range once or twice a year and spend most of the time on the wall but she'll be taken care of.